Two men who died in a garage fire in St. Paul were publicly identified Thursday as a 39- and a 63-year-old.

David John Orlando, the younger of the two, and Frank Allen Piele were found in a weekend fire in the Eastern Hazel Park neighborhood on the East Side.

Piele was the son of the homeowner and lived in the garage on and off, according to the fire department.

Firefighters were called to the detached garage fire on Sims Avenue off White Bear Avenue about 12:15 p.m. Sunday. The garage was completely engulfed in flames and, during a search of it, firefighters found Orlando and Piele.

The fire likely started when a space heater was accidentally knocked over, the fire department said. Heavy fire conditions appeared to have blocked anyone from exiting from the garage service door.

Improper heating is a leading cause of fatal fires in Minnesota during lower temperatures, the fire department said.

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